Executives must endeavor a uniform approach to managing innovation initiatives and the mainstream (established) business.1 pointTrueFalse

False.

Innovation initiatives and the mainstream (established) business often require different management approaches. The mainstream business typically focuses on exploitation, i.e., optimizing and improving existing products, services, processes, and markets. This often requires a management approach that emphasizes efficiency, control, and incremental improvement.

On the other hand, innovation initiatives typically focus on exploration, i.e., creating new products, services, processes, and markets. This often requires a management approach that emphasizes flexibility, creativity, risk-taking, and radical change.

Therefore, executives need to manage innovation initiatives and the mainstream business in a balanced and differentiated (not uniform) way, taking into account their different needs, challenges, and goals. This is a key aspect of organizational ambidexterity.